A Sherd Recovered at the African-American Meeting House in Boston that Appears Related to Objects Made in Peabody, Massachusetts

Last night, I posted an article about a green glazed red earthenware lid finial that was recovered within an early-nineteenth century archaeological context at the African-American Meeting House in Boston. I also wrote "The African-American Meeting House on Beacon Hill in Boston was built in 1806 in what once was the heart of Boston's nineteenth century free black community. The Meeting House was host to giants in the Abolitionist Movement who were responsible for monumental historical events that changed this nation."

This is another sherd that was discovered at the meeting house within a similar archaeological context, which appears to be the remains of a chamber pot. This object may have also been made in Essex County, Massachusetts or more specifically at the potter's industry in Peabody, Massachusetts in the early-to-mid nineteenth century.

It is not unheard of today to find red earthenware from Peabody in archaeological sites in the Boston area in the 1800s. For example, objects from separate production periods, which were made in Peabody have been discovered at various sites elsewhere in Boston, as well as Charlestown, Massachusetts and Dorchester, Massachusetts.

For a comparison: I have posted images of chamber pots attributed to Peabody that were manufactured with a similar rim, which are owned today by the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts. Each of these chamber pots also retain a nineteenth century history of ownership in Salem.

Note: Here is a link to an online document that further analyzes the archaeology from the nineteenth century African-American Meeting House in Boston.

Sherd Recovered at the African-American Meeting House in Boston

 Early-to-Mid 19th Century Red Earthenware Chamber Pot Sherd

Possibly Made in Essex County, Mass. or Peabody, Mass.

Similar Examples are Shown Below from the Peabody Essex Museum in Peabody, Mass.

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Boston Archaeology Dept., West Roxbury, Mass.

 View of the Rim

Photo Courtesy: Boston Archaeology Dept., West Roxbury, Mass.

View of the Sherd's Interior

Photo Courtesy: Boston Archaeology Dept., West Roxbury, Mass.

Chamber Pots Owned by the Peabody Essex Museum

 19th Century Red Earthenware Chamber Pots Attributed to Peabody, Mass.

Rims Are Similar to the Sherd Shown Above

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Boston Archaeology Dept., West Roxbury, Mass.

19th Century Red Earthenware Chamber Pots Attributed to Peabody, Mass.
Rims Are Similar to the Sherd Shown Above
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Boston Archaeology Dept., West Roxbury, Mass.

Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...

The Remains of Likely a Southeastern Massachusetts Red Earthenware Jar Found at the African-American Meeting House in Boston

According to the Museum of African-American History, "The African-American Meeting House on Beacon Hill in Boston was built in 1806 in what once was the heart of Boston's nineteenth century free black community. The Meeting House was host to giants in the Abolitionist Movement who were responsible for monumental historical events that changed this nation."

In 2006, a team of archaeologists from the University of Massachusetts at Boston conducted an archaeological dig at the original site of the African-American Meeting House, where they uncovered privies and a large collection of artifacts related to this nineteenth century site.

Earlier today, I began to study this collection for domestic red earthenware, and what I found was exciting; the artifacts included objects that had been imported from elsewhere in America, as well as local potters from coastal Massachusetts. I plan to show some of these artifacts and demonstrate their origin in the coming days and weeks.

My exact reaction when I saw this sherd was "Holy Cow!" 

This small green glazed sherd was uncovered within an early-nineteenth century context, which is also when the meeting house was used to "found the New England Anti-Slavery Society with William Lloyd Garrison in 1832, and the 1833 farewell address of Maria Stewart, a black woman and the first American born woman to speak publicly before a gender mixed audience."

This finial certainly appears like it is the remains of a red earthenware lid, which had once adorned a green glazed red earthenware jar made in southeastern Massachusetts in the early-1800s.

To demonstrate this comparison: I have shown a nearly exact shaped and glazed finial (and notice the clay color) below from a jar that is owned today by Winterthur in Delaware.

Note: Here is a link to an online document that further analyzes the archaeology from the nineteenth century African-American Meeting House in Boston.

Red Earthenware Sherds Recovered at the African-American Meeting House in Boston

 19th Century Sherds Recovered at the African-American Meeting House in Boston

Likely the Remains of a Lid for a Jar Made in Southeastern Mass.

See Article for More Information
See Jar Below from Winterthur for a Comparison

Photo Courtesy: Boston Archaeology Dept., West Roxbury, Mass.

Another View of the Sherds

 Photo Courtesy: Boston Archaeology Dept., West Roxbury, Mass.

Another View of the Sherds

 Photo Courtesy: Boston Archaeology Dept., West Roxbury, Mass.

Southeastern Mass. Red Earthenware Jar

Late-18th or Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Attributed to Southeastern Mass.

The Finial is Likely Related to the Sherds Shown Above

Circa 1790-1820

Stands 11 3/8" Tall

See Article for More Information

Link to Object on Winterthur's Website

 Photo Courtesy: Boston Archaeology Dept., West Roxbury, Mass.

Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...

A 19th Century Red Earthenware Ring Flask that Sold Yesterday in Portsmouth, New Hampshire

This is another red earthenware object that sold yesterday in 'The Collection of Doris & Stanley Tananbaum' at Northeast Auctions in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Whereas, similar to the objects that I wrote about last night, this ring flask was also sold in a group lot.

Initially, I had thought that this ring flask may have been made in East Tennessee around the mid-nineteenth century; however, I realized that it was probably made elsewhere after I had finally handled it last week.

My feeling is that this object could have been made somewhere in southeast Pennsylvania based on how this ring flask was made combined with the glaze and the form of the rim. Although, this object is also inscribed on both shoulders with a special inscription, which reads, "A Present To / Amos Weaver."

I have not been able to determine Amos Weaver's identity, but I have determined that it was a common name in the 1800s. I had hoped that there may have been a potter by the name of Weaver, who had a son named Amos, but I have not been able to connect that relationship.

Red Earthenware Ring Flask

 19th Century Red Earthenware Ring Flask

Probably Made in Pennsylvania

Inscribed on Both Shoulders, "A Present To / Amos Weaver"

Measures 9 3/4" in Diameter

Link to Auction Listing

Photo Courtesy: Northeast Auctions - Portsmouth, NH

 Another View of the Ring Flask

Photo Courtesy: Northeast Auctions - Portsmouth, NH

 View of the Rim

Photo Courtesy: Northeast Auctions - Portsmouth, NH

 View of the Inscription, "A Present To"

Photo Courtesy: Northeast Auctions - Portsmouth, NH

View of the Inscription, "Amos Weaver"

Photo Courtesy: Northeast Auctions - Portsmouth, NH

Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...

A Group of Red Earthenware that Sold in the Tannanbaum Collection Today at Northeast Auctions in Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Earlier today, I purchased a lot of red earthenware from 'The Collection of Doris & Stanley Tananbaum' at Northeast Auctions in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The lot consisted of two red earthenware mugs, as well as a red earthenware shaving cup.

I do not want to get into great detail about each of these objects tonight, but I feel I have a possible attribution for each object.

1) The first red earthenware mug shown below closely resembles objects that were made on Long Island in the early-to-mid nineteenth century. Interestingly, these types of objects have been recovered at archaeology sites and constructions sites in New York City.

2) The second red earthenware mug closely resembles mugs, which have been recovered in eighteenth century contexts in Philadelphia; whereas, the handle, the finger impression at the base of the handle, the base, the refinement of the mug and the ribbed midsection are all characteristics that I have seen attributed to Philadelphia.

3) The red earthenware shaving cup shares a number of characteristics with pitchers that were made in Peabody, Massachusetts in the nineteenth century. It is difficult to say which potter's business may be responsible since there were so many, but the dark exterior glaze (see shaving cup in group photo below) combined with the colorful interior glaze are spot on for a few pitchers that I have seen from Peabody, Massachusetts, which are owned today by the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts. But the way the base was cut by the potter, the handle and the incised line placed tightly around the rim also closely match styles that I have seen from Peabody.

1) Red Earthenware Mug

Lot of Pottery Purchased Today at Northeast Auctions in Portsmouth, NH

The Collection of Doris & Stanley Tananbaum

(Right) 19th Century Red Earthenware Mug Probably Made on Long Island

Circa 1805-1860

Stands 5 3/4" Tall
See Article for More Information

2) Red Earthenware Mug

 Probably 18th Century Red Earthenware Mug Possibly Made in Philadelphia

Mug Shares a Number of Characteristics with Similar Mugs Recovered in Philadelphia

Circa 1760-1810

Stands 6 1/4" Tall

See Article for More Information

 Another View of the Mug

View of the Handle

See Article for More Information

3) Red Earthenware Shaving Cup

 19th Century Red Earthenware Shaving Cup Likely Made in Essex County, Mass.
Possibly Made at the Industry in Peabody, Mass.

Circa 1840-1880

Stands 4 1/2" Tall

See Article for More Information

 View of the Handle

 View of the Interior

Another View of the Interior

Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...

An Intriguing Red Earthenware Jug that Retains an Old Note that Says it was Made in Charlestown, Massachusetts, Circa 1780-1810

In 2005, Skinner in Boston sold a slip-decorated red earthenware loaf dish that was accompanied with a fascinating old tag that was reportedly found with the dish, which read, "...John Parker (b. 1725) of Charlestown, Massachusetts, a potter peddled it as far as Middleboro (Mass.). He was met there by Cape (Cod) merchants who sold it door to door. John Smith & Hiram Stone of Harwich (Mass.) were customers of John Parker."

Unfortunately, this dish is not what I recognize today as a style of red earthenware that was manufactured in Charlestown before the American Revolution. It actually strikes me as an object that was manufactured in southeastern Pennsylvania, possibly Philadelphia in the early-to-mid nineteenth century. It is not unheard of today to find Philadelphia red earthenware in early-contexts in New England, whereas I have seen Philadelphia sherds recovered in Boston, Salem, Massachusetts, and as far north as Yarmouth, Maine. It was even advertised in the 1760s that a potter was manufacturing red earthenware in Providence, Rhode Island, which was comparable to what was produced in Philadelphia.

Nevertheless, yesterday, I was in attendance at a Northeast Auction in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where a group of red earthenware, among other antiques were sold. All of the red earthenware sold for strong prices with the top lot, an eighteenth century sgraffito red earthenware dish, dated 1793, which was made in Montgomery County in southeastern Pennsylvania (near Philadelphia) sold for more than $40,000 (including the buyer's premium).

However, there was a lot of three red earthenware jugs (some with condition issues) with a cup that intrigued me; this lot contained a small dark colored jug with an old tag that was attached to the base, which read, "Charlestown Pottery, 1780-1810."

It is not widely known today, but there were potters in Charlestown producing red earthenware after the American Revolution and into the nineteenth century. The industry in Charlestown before the American Revolution is what is known today, which burned at the Battle of Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775. But some potters did return to Charlestown to produce pottery; although, there is not a lot of evidence that survives today to prove how this entire production appeared.

The Charlestown Archaeology Collection at the Boston Archaeology Department in West Roxbury, Massachusetts does include later artifacts that relate to this post-American Revolution production, but it is still under investigation today in order to determine what-is-what.

It is difficult to currently say whether the old tag that accompany's this jug is an accurate attribution. But it is certainly exciting to see this tag; although, similar forms were made just to the north in Essex County, Massachusetts in the 1800s.

But I do want to mention that I have seen this form before, and it would be extremely exciting to learn that this is something that was made in Charlestown after 1780. Nonetheless, like I have already written, there still needs to be more research or prove or discredit such an attribution.

Note: Here are links to two articles that I posted in 2016 that discuss two pieces of Philadelphia pottery found in early-contexts of ownership in Massachusetts.

1) Philadelphia Red Earthenware in Salem, Massachusetts

2) Philadelphia Red Earthenware Owned by Historic New England

Red Earthenware Jug that Sold Yesterday

 Late-18th or 19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Possibly Made in Massachusetts

Retains Old Note that Reads "Charlestown Pottery, 1780-1810"

Stands 4 3/8" Tall

See Article for More Information

Here is a Link to the Auction Listing

Photo Courtesy: Northeast Auctions - Portsmouth, NH

 View of the Handle

Photo Courtesy: Northeast Auctions - Portsmouth, NH

View of the Base

The Jug Retains an Old Note that Reads "Charlestown Pottery, 1780-1810"

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Northeast Auctions - Portsmouth, NH

Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...

The Pottery Made in Southeast Missouri in the Nineteenth & Twentieth Centuries

I recently learned about three twentieth century photographs taken of the Evans family pottery in southeast Missouri, which are owned today by the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. One of the photographs may show a style of pottery being thrown that this business had learned about from an Arkansas pottery in the late-1920s. Although, early-on, stoneware was reportedly produced at the site of the Evans Pottery, as early as 1858 in Stoddard County, Missouri.

According to the 'Daily Statesman,' "The business began when Jacob Semmimon, a potter in Georgia, sent his son, Thomas to Arkansas in search of clay suitable for the potter's trade. But it has been reported that Native Americans told him about a better clay source found to the north in the Bloommfield, Missouri area. He was later joined at this location by his then-widowed mother and other family members, and they established themselves as jugmakers. 

The pottery was primitive but utilitarian and included fruit jars, kraut crocks (see crock below), milk pitchers, and whiskey jugs. The business was expanded by loading oxen-drawn wagons with pots peddling them from Bloomfield to Cape Road, Missouri. 

The family also setup a shop at a local livery in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where they also bought and resold goods coming into town from the Mississippi River. 

Bloomfield was burned three times during the Civil War, but the pottery business managed to be spared each time.

In 1882, a potter named, Hugh Evans was working for the Semmimons and he had also married Jacob's daughter (and Thomas' sister), Lucinda. Evans took over the operations of the business following the death of Thomas Semmimon.

Hugh Evans' son, Randall was also employed in the potter's trade working nearby at the Peters Pottery just to the south in Dexter, Missouri. The Peters Pottery made whiskey jugs and reportedly tried to create a new glaze, but was not successful. When this business failed, it was bought out by Hugh Evans, helping provide work for what had become a large family business. There were about five firings of 3,000 to 5,000 pieces per year.

In an attempt to expand production, Randall Evans and his brother, Arthur went to Benton, Arkansas in 1928 to observe pottery being made at the Niloak Factory, an art pottery company that operated circa 1909-1946. The pattern known as mission swirl had become very popular, which was produced at the Niloak Pottery. The Evans' were able to copy this style (another example), and were sued; however, the Niloak Pottery's lawsuit failed. 

The Evans Pottery continued to prosper and supported the families of Hugh, Randall and Arthur Evans throughout the Great Depression. But Arthur soon migrated west, where he established the Desert Sands Pottery in Nevada. 

Although, Randall Evans kept the original factory going; he had excellent eye-hand coordination and could produce quart pots by feel.

It has also been reported that the Missouri and Nevada businesses would swap wares resulting in wide distribution for both businesses after the Great Depression.

The Evans Pottery ended production in Dexter, Missouri in 1969, and the last building was demolished for the widening of Highway 25 between Bloomfield and Dexter later on in the twentieth century."

Nevertheless, the Evans Pottery also manufactured a style of stoneware that was similar to some of the tree branch, oak leaf and acorn pitchers that I have recently written about, which were made by John Fritz in Amana, Iowa. But the objects made at the Evans Pottery were simpler usually resembling tree bark. I have also found that the Evans family produced wall pockets, vases, ashtrays, bird houses, bookends, along with many other objects. Some of the production also took inspiration from local wildlife used to embellish pottery with figures of animals, which I find somewhat resembles the whimsical figures that are known today from nineteenth century red earthenware potters in places like Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Note: I have previously posted a few articles about red earthenware manufactured in Missouri in the 1800s; two of those articles can be found in these links.

1) Jar Recovered from Privy in St. Louis, Missouri

2) Pottery Owned by the Missouri Historical Society

20th Century Photographs of the Evans Pottery in Dexter, Missouri

 Exterior of Evans Pottery - Dexter, Stoddard County, MO
See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Library of Congress - Washington, D.C.

Interior of Evans Pottery - Dexter, Stoddard County, MO
See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Library of Congress - Washington, D.C.

Interior of Evans Pottery - Dexter, Stoddard County, MO

Appears that a Swirl Vase is Being Thrown

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Library of Congress - Washington, D.C.

Dexter Pottery Stoneware Crock

19th Century 3 Gallon Dexter Pottery Stoneware Crock - Dexter, MO
Possibly Made at the Semmimon Pottery Before 1882
Circa 1858-1900
Stands 11 3/4" Tall
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Dirk Soulis Auctions - Lone Jack, MO

View of the Stamped Mark
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Dirk Soulis Auctions - Lone Jack, MO

Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...

The Continued Study About Red Earthenware Animal Feeders Recovered in Essex County, Massachusetts

Yesterday, I posted an article about red earthenware animal feeders that I have acquired in the past five-years at various estate sales and from some antique dealers, who have cleaned out homes in Essex County, Massachusetts. All of these objects have come from old homes in Beverly, Massachusetts, Annisquam, Massachusetts, Essex, Massachusetts, as well as homes in the Peabody, Massachusetts and Salem, Massachusetts areas.

I have also studied a sherd from an animal feeder (see below), which was recovered within a nineteenth century context on the property of an eighteenth century home in Marblehead, Massachusetts. This sherd certainly seems related to the objects that I just described.

Nevertheless, below I have shown the variety of forms that I have found, which lead me to believe that this was a style of production that took place in the Beverly and Peabody-area in the nineteenth century. I also do not believe that this is a style of production that has been previously published about this area, which I find exciting. But this information also makes me think about what was produced elsewhere in New England (and in America) that is currently not recognized today.

Various Red Earthenware Animal Feeders

 19th Century Red Earthenware Animal Feeders Recovered in Essex County, Mass.

All Likely Made in Essex County, Mass.

Circa 1840-1900

See Article for More Information

Found in a Home in Beverly, Mass.

 Found in a Different Home in Beverly, Mass.

 Found at a Flea Market in Essex County, Mass.

 Found in Essex County, Mass. Homes

Found in Essex County, Mass. Homes

Red Earthenware Sherd Recovered in Marblehead, Mass.

  19th Century Animal Feeder Sherd Likely Made in Essex County, Mass.

This Object is Similar to Some of the Animal Feeders Shown in this Article

Uncovered on the Property of an Early Home in Marblehead, Mass.

Circa 1800-1880

Photo Courtesy: Private Massachusetts Collection

View of the Interior of the Sherd

Photo Courtesy: Private Massachusetts Collection

Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...